Local man jumps back into TV industry with 'Honey Boo Boo'

Published: Saturday, July 13, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, July 12, 2013 at 6:14 p.m.

When the next season of TLC’s hit television show, “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo,” premieres Wednesday night, viewers will have the ability to “watch ‘n’ sniff” along with the show.

The promotion, in which viewers can scratch off numbered circles to smell along with different scenes on the show, will enter people in a contest to win $5,000.

Mills River resident Brendon Hamlin, however, is ineligible for the prize. For the last month, he has been a member of the TLC team prepping the promotional contest for the popular show.

Hamlin is the interim creative director for the TLC marketing department, as the vice president normally in the role is on maternity leave.

Hamlin, who is the vice president of sales at Carriage Park, his family’s business, came into the TLC promotion process late, but has been a part of the team that has pulled the nationwide promotional package together.

The cards will be on newsstands in People magazine Monday and in US Weekly on July 22.

This isn’t the 43-year-old’s first foray into the television industry. Hamlin graduated from Hendersonville High in 1988 and went on to college at Elon University. After graduating with a degree in communications in 1992, Hamlin got his first big break. He worked as a production assistant for the movie, “The Fugitive.”

“My job was basically to do whatever I was told to do and do it quickly,” he said.

Hamlin did that for three years as he worked on corporate commercials and other movies including “Richie Rich” and “Forrest Gump.”

In 1994, he moved to Atlanta. He worked on more productions, including the John Grisham-based television series “The Client.” He also worked as a location assistant on the Civil War miniseries “Andersonville.”

After years of working as a part of production teams, however, Hamlin was ready to settle down and began to seek stability. He and his fiancee, Sarah, were planning a wedding and a more stable life was a necessity.

“In the production world you just go from gig to gig,” Hamlin said. “You can’t really plan.”

In 1995, that opportunity to settle down found Hamlin. He took a job in on-air promotions with Turner Broadcasting Systems. He also got married that year.

On-air promotion was simply marketing the shows on TBS at the time. Hamlin started out as an operations coordinator and worked his way up to a writer-producer. As a writer-producer, he created a promotional spot from start to finish.

One of those spots included World Championship Wrestling’s “Thunder” premiere in 1998. Hamlin got to work with wrestlers Hulk Hogan, Macho Man Randy Savage and Ric Flair.

In 2000, financial troubles at Turner led to a layoff.

“Suddenly, I was a freelancer,” Hamlin said.

He began freelancing in promotions with FX. While working for the channel owned by Fox, his boss tipped him off to an opportunity in North Carolina at a new show.

In 2001, Hamlin went to work for the Speed Channel and helped create the promotions department.

“You got to do everything, but you were responsible for everything,” he said. “It was kind of a double-edged sword.”

Hamlin worked for Speed in Charlotte for seven years before returning home to Hendersonville to work at his family’s company, Carriage Park. The development was taken over by his dad in 1986 and for the last six years, Hamlin has sold homes.

A little over a month ago, however, he learned of the TLC opportunity and pounced on it. It was a chance to get back into an industry that he loves.

“It’s really what I think I was meant to do,” Hamlin said.

And when he sits down to watch the season premiere of “Honey Boo Boo” with millions of other Americans, he won’t have to scratch the circles off to know what the smells will be. He already knows.

One other thing that Hamlin knows is that his heart is pulling him back into the television industry.

“I like doing this work,” he said. “I’d like to keep going down this path and see what’s out there.”

<p>When the next season of TLC's hit television show, “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo,” premieres Wednesday night, viewers will have the ability to “watch 'n' sniff” along with the show. </p><p>The promotion, in which viewers can scratch off numbered circles to smell along with different scenes on the show, will enter people in a contest to win $5,000. </p><p>Mills River resident Brendon Hamlin, however, is ineligible for the prize. For the last month, he has been a member of the TLC team prepping the promotional contest for the popular show.</p><p>Hamlin is the interim creative director for the TLC marketing department, as the vice president normally in the role is on maternity leave. </p><p>Hamlin, who is the vice president of sales at Carriage Park, his family's business, came into the TLC promotion process late, but has been a part of the team that has pulled the nationwide promotional package together.</p><p>The cards will be on newsstands in People magazine Monday and in US Weekly on July 22. </p><p>This isn't the 43-year-old's first foray into the television industry. Hamlin graduated from Hendersonville High in 1988 and went on to college at Elon University. After graduating with a degree in communications in 1992, Hamlin got his first big break. He worked as a production assistant for the movie, “The Fugitive.”</p><p>“My job was basically to do whatever I was told to do and do it quickly,” he said. </p><p>Hamlin did that for three years as he worked on corporate commercials and other movies including “Richie Rich” and “Forrest Gump.”</p><p>In 1994, he moved to Atlanta. He worked on more productions, including the John Grisham-based television series “The Client.” He also worked as a location assistant on the Civil War miniseries “Andersonville.”</p><p>After years of working as a part of production teams, however, Hamlin was ready to settle down and began to seek stability. He and his fiancee, Sarah, were planning a wedding and a more stable life was a necessity. </p><p>“In the production world you just go from gig to gig,” Hamlin said. “You can't really plan.”</p><p>In 1995, that opportunity to settle down found Hamlin. He took a job in on-air promotions with Turner Broadcasting Systems. He also got married that year. </p><p>On-air promotion was simply marketing the shows on TBS at the time. Hamlin started out as an operations coordinator and worked his way up to a writer-producer. As a writer-producer, he created a promotional spot from start to finish. </p><p>One of those spots included World Championship Wrestling's “Thunder” premiere in 1998. Hamlin got to work with wrestlers Hulk Hogan, Macho Man Randy Savage and Ric Flair. </p><p>In 2000, financial troubles at Turner led to a layoff. </p><p>“Suddenly, I was a freelancer,” Hamlin said.</p><p>He began freelancing in promotions with FX. While working for the channel owned by Fox, his boss tipped him off to an opportunity in North Carolina at a new show. </p><p>In 2001, Hamlin went to work for the Speed Channel and helped create the promotions department. </p><p>“You got to do everything, but you were responsible for everything,” he said. “It was kind of a double-edged sword.”</p><p>Hamlin worked for Speed in Charlotte for seven years before returning home to Hendersonville to work at his family's company, Carriage Park. The development was taken over by his dad in 1986 and for the last six years, Hamlin has sold homes. </p><p>A little over a month ago, however, he learned of the TLC opportunity and pounced on it. It was a chance to get back into an industry that he loves.</p><p>“It's really what I think I was meant to do,” Hamlin said. </p><p>And when he sits down to watch the season premiere of “Honey Boo Boo” with millions of other Americans, he won't have to scratch the circles off to know what the smells will be. He already knows. </p><p>One other thing that Hamlin knows is that his heart is pulling him back into the television industry.</p><p>“I like doing this work,” he said. “I'd like to keep going down this path and see what's out there.”</p><p>Reach Millwood at 828-694-7881 or at joey.millwood@blueridgenow.com.</p>